ALGINATE PRODUCTION BY AZOTOBACTER VINELANDII IN BATCH CULTURE

Abstract

In laboratory study, some factors influencing the secretion of alginic acid by highly mucoid strain of Azotobacter vinelandii were investigated in batch culture. The highest alginate yields were (5.5-6.2mg ml^-1 culture supernatant) obtained for growth in a nitrogen-rich and phosphate-limited medium with sucrose as carbon source, aerated by shaking at 240 rpm. At 140rpm, alginate yield was only 1.6mg ml^-1. If sucrose was replaced by glucose, both growth and alginate production ware reduced.